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Thomas Mulls matchbox, Solo CDs -- Or Both

With its Exile In America tour just started, the future is in play -- and completely wide open -- for matchbox twenty, according to frontman Rob Thomas. The group may record a new studio album, or Tho

With its Exile In America tour just started, the future is in play -- and completely wide open -- for matchbox twenty, according to frontman Rob Thomas.

"It goes against my balanced nature to say I know what's going to happen in the next year or two years," Thomas tells Billboard.com. "I'm not setting up any plans to do anything. I could put out a solo record next, or we could just as easily write a whole (band) record in the next two months and hurry about and want to put it out.

"So I don't pretend to know what's going on," he continues. "It's just good to know that I'm writing and the band is writing and those options are out there."

matchbox twenty returned to active duty with last fall's "Exile on Mainstream" hits collection, which features six new songs. Thomas says the renewed activity has whetted the quartet's appetite to make more music together, and he notes, "part of our fun on the road is working on the next matchbox record in sound checks and on the bus. Some of the guys have their studios out on the road, so I'm sure new (music) will be cropping up."

Thomas, meanwhile, is also at work on his second solo album, the follow-up to his platinum 2005 solo debut "...Something To Be." He says he and producer Matt Serletic have "half a record written, and we've got a lot of it recorded."

The duo has "been listening to a lot of Paul Simon, 'Rhythm of the Saints,' that kind of a vibe, just trying to figure out something new," according to Thomas.

"As long as we're writing and being creative, it's limitless the things we can do," Thomas adds. "It's only trouble if we stop being creative -- that's when it's a problem. If my biggest problem in the world is, 'Wow, do I put out a matchbox twenty record or do I put out a solo record?,' if I have an opportunity to do either, then I still have a job and I'm f*ckin' lucky."